Easing, also called Easing Functions, refers to mathematical curves that control the rate of change in an animation over time, determining whether movement accelerates, decelerates, or maintains constant speed throughout its duration. Rather than having animations move at a uniform linear pace, easing creates more natural, organic motion by varying the speed of change to mimic real-world physics and create visual polish.

Common easing functions include Ease In, which starts slow and accelerates toward the end; Ease Out, which starts fast and decelerates smoothly to a stop; Ease In-Out, which accelerates at the beginning and decelerates at the end for fluid, natural motion; and variations like Bounce, Elastic, and Back that create stylized motion effects with overshoot or oscillation. The choice of easing function has a profound impact on how an animation feels: linear movement can appear robotic and lifeless, while thoughtfully eased motion feels intentional, smooth, and physically convincing.

In animation and motion graphics, easing is fundamental to creating movement that feels polished and professional rather than mechanical. For creators working with AI video generation or preparing to animate AI-generated assets in post-production, understanding easing functions helps produce motion that has the natural acceleration and deceleration patterns audiences expect from high-quality animation.